Chargers Release LaDainian Tomlinson After Nine Seasons

LaDainian Tomlinson visited the Vikings and the Jets over the past week trying to determine his future. He had several other visits scheduled but canceled them and picked the Jets.

ESPN's Adam Scefter reports it's a two-year contract.

Previous reports had indicated the Jets were willing to give Tomlinson a similar contract to the two-year, $5 million contract Thomas Jones signed with the Chiefs.

At age 31, the big question is whether Tomlinson can produce like Jones. Even without the stats to back it up, Tomlinson can provide a valuable tool in the maturation of second year back Shonn Greene.

Perhaps the better question is, "Where is next for LaDanian Tomlinson?"

The Chargers cut the 2006 MVP on Monday, meaning in 2010, L.T. will be playing for a new team, something he is already looking forward to.

"It was a longtime coming, but I knew it was coming," he said by phone to SI.com. "Now that it's official I can kind of look to the next step in my career and playing football for someone else." [...]

"The main thing for me now is to try to win a championship," said Tomlinson ... "That's my No. 1 goal. That's why I still work hard and train like I do, because I still believe there's a chance of winning that championship. So the next team I go to has to have a chance of winning a title. I can think of a few teams off the top of my head, but that's what my agent is for. I'm sure he's going to do some research, talk to some teams and present some options to me."

In addition to being a championship contender, Tomlinson also says wherever he ends up must be "a team that has a [proven] quarterback," though he does not specifically mention a specific club by name. But speculation has already begun.

Our Chargers blog, Bolts From The Blue, rules out the other AFC West teams.

As far as the AFC West goes, I don't really see LT being a fit on any of the other AFC West teams. The Raiders are stacked at RB, the Chiefs have a young super-star in the making in Jamaal Charles, and the Broncos also have a bunch of young RBs and don't seem to have any desire for an old veteran.

Meanwhile, Fanhouse lists the Texans, Redskins, Chiefs and Bears as possible destinations, but first pointed out that maybe no one will want the aging running back.

Two NFL executives told FanHouse they believe Tomlinson may already be finished.

"I don't know that he has anything left," one NFC executive said. "I'd be hesitant to sign him."

"You have to understand, with L.T, you're not just signing the player. You're taking on the whole package," an AFC personnel executive told FanHouse.

About three weeks ago, LaDainian Tomlinson said he didn’t think he’d be back with the Chargers next season. It turns out he was right: The team released LT Monday afternoon. The move is being reported on San Diego’s official Twitter feed.

Tomlinson was a Charger for nine seasons. Due to various injuries (and age), his production has decreases each year since 2006, when he peaked with over 1,800 rushing yards and 28 TDs en route to winning MVP.

LT is 30 years-old, the age that generally marks the end of a running back’s career as a starter. Expect Tomlinson to catch on somewhere, however, to at least play a back-up role.

Even if LaDainian Tomlinson is not officially gone as a Charger his best days are behind him. He is owed a two million dollar roster bonus March 5th and there is a real possibility he could be cut from San Diego prior to then.

In advance of this procedure Bolts From the Blue put together LT’s greatest hits as a Charger, below is a sampling of their list:

September 29, 2002 vs. New England. The Chargers entered this game at 3-0. In all honesty, I didn’t think the world of LT before this game. However, running for 217 yards, and 2 classic TDs – one breaking Tedy Bruschi’s ankles in the hole, the other a cross-field sprint – and I realized for the 1st time that Chargers’ fans were seeing something special.

November 12, 2006 at Cincinnati. LT scores 4 TDs to help the Chargers overcome a 28-7 halftime deficit and take a 42-38 lead on the first play of the 4th quarter, on their way to a classic 49-41 come-from-behind victory.

January 6, 2008 vs. Tennessee. In his first playoff victory, LT didn’t post huge numbers. However, I smile every time I think of his 4th-and-1 TD, jumping over the pile, getting hit, then stretching the ball across the goal line to give the Chargers the clinching score.

He is possibly the greatest Charger ever to done the powder blue uni and the best since quarterback Dan Fouts. His accomplishments were great as he holds the single season touchdown record at 31, and the only accomplishment to evade LT was the chance to play in a Super Bowl

SB Nation’s Bolts from the Blue broke down a radio interview about LaDainian Tomlinson’s situation with the Chargers.

The whole interview seemed to be a criticism of the Chargers younger players and it showed with these quotes from the interview:

“There was a big part of this year, for whatever reason, where I didn’t feel connected to the team.”

“These guys that come into the league, it’s not about the same values anymore. Faith, family, football…..to them it’s not about that anymore.”

“If that’s going to be allowed……I can’t deal with that type of stuff anymore.”

LT is serious about his football and is frustrated that the younger players are not being focused as much as he is. Rather the younger guys are more interested in their bank accounts then doing the extra things to make themselves better. The last quote refers to some of those same younger players who are getting trouble with the law.

The biggest quote from the interview is when he was asked if he was happy and he answered, "No."